What does distasting mean?
Distasting is the present participle and gerund of the verb 'distaste', which means to dislike or feel aversion toward something. The word traces back through Old French 'desgouster' ('to lose appetite') from Latin roots meaning 'away' plus 'taste', so it literally conveys a turning away of one's taste or appetite from a thing. In practice, 'distasting' is now archaic: while the adjective 'distasteful' remains common for describing something unpleasant or offensive, the verbal form has largely fallen out of use, surviving mainly in older literature and in deliberately formal or antiquated styles. When encountered, it functions like any present participle, as in 'distasting the flattery offered him, he left the room'. Modern writers who want this sense would normally say 'disliking' or 'loathing' instead. Knowing 'distasting' is useful chiefly for reading historical texts with confidence and for appreciating how English retains fossilized forms alongside their more successful relatives.
verb (present participle and gerund of 'distaste')The present participle or gerund of the now largely archaic verb 'distaste', meaning to dislike or feel distaste for something.
- To dislike or have an aversion to something (archaic or rare; chiefly in participial constructions)
"Even in his youth, he was already distasting the pomp of court ceremony."
"He was known for distasting flattery of any kind."
"Distasting the noise of the city, she retreated to the countryside."
'Distasting' looks like a modern coinage, but it's actually a survival of an early English verb that lost out to its own adjective, 'distasteful'.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of distasting
The verb 'distaste' derives from Middle French 'desgouster' (Modern French 'dégoûter'), formed from 'des-' (from Latin 'dis-', expressing reversal) plus 'gouster/goûter' ('to taste'), itself from Latin 'gustare'. It entered English in the late 16th century with senses including 'to spoil the taste of' and 'to take a dislike to'. Over time the verbal use declined while the derived adjective 'distasteful' flourished, leaving 'distasting' as a rare, archaic form.
How distasting is actually used
This form is archaic or very rare in contemporary English; speakers today overwhelmingly use 'dislike', 'loathe', or the adjective 'distasteful' instead. It may appear in historical literature or deliberately archaic prose.
Easily confused with distasting
'Distasteful' is an adjective describing something that causes dislike or is offensive, whereas 'distasting' is the participle of a verb describing the act of disliking.